Straight-knitting machine.



PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

' W. W. BURSON.

STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED $113.4, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Inventor.-

Zdizfhesses:

by (cam/a, Q-QQNNS o iorn e y.

PATENTED JULY 7, 1908.

W. w. BURSON. STRAIGHT KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.4, 1905.

a SHEEN-SHEET s.

In Dania?" A @Q AWQMUQ WY. KMMW oQorne a/ Beer ruminants Corr UN ITE S'lrlt'illi ilt a ATENT @FFICE.

WILLIAM WORTH BURSONfOF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. i

" STRAIGHT-KNITTING- MACHINE.

Original application filed June '7, 1897, Serial Illinois, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Straight Knitting Machines, ofwhich the following is a s ecification, referencebeing' had therein totie ac: companying drawing.

My invention relates to knitting machines of the class in which thereare employed in a given machine two straight rows of needles, suchmachines being known. as parallel row machines.

The objects of my invention are, in general, first, to provide means tocause the yarn-carrier to move in'proper relation with resp act to themoving needle-actuating cams; second, to provide means forenabling atubular fabric to be knit with an additional or splice yarn introducedinto a longitudinal portion of the same, tliird,'to provide means forcrossing said sphce-yarn froin'one row of needles to the other at anintermediate point of the tubular fabric which is in course of beingknit, so as to avoid waste of said spliceyarn; and fourth, to.providemeans to cut portion of the length of the the portion ofsplice-yarn which .extends or crosses from one row of needles to theother, as the knitting progresses.

An embodiment of the various features of the invention is illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which latter,-

Figure 1 is atop view of certain portions of i a parallel-row knittingmachine containing the said embodiment. Fig. 2 is a View in verticalsection on the plane indicated by the dotted line 2 2, Fig. 1'. Fig. 3shows-a view of certain of the parts in section on the same line, thepresser-hooks being somewhat farther apart than in- Fig. 2. Fig. 4 showsa resser hook cam-bar. Fig. 5 is a view in e evation on a somewhat larer scale, SllOWlIl" chiefl" the cw b .l

yarn-carrier. the knife for severing the portion of splice yarn whichcrosses from one row of needles to the other, and certain of the partswhich are concerned in operating --the yarn-carrier, the splice yarnguide, and

said knife, the said devices being viewed from the side that is farthestfrom the operator. Fig. 6 is a detail view in section on the line 6 6fFig. 5. Fig." 7 shows, in elevation Specification of Letters Patent.

No. 639,677. Divided and. this application filed February'd, 1906.Serial No.244,07 7. Y r

' Patented July 7, 1903.

which the needle-operating cams are placed in and out of position forengaging with the needles and adjacent parts. Fig; '8 shows the parts ofFig. 7 in plan, and in connection therewith the eccentric block Gpertaining to the corresponding needle-operating cam,

and portions of the carrier-arm G: of said cam, the plate B beingremoved. Fig. 9

shows in elevation the. switch and adjacent parts which are em loved atthe .opposite end of the same side 0' themachine, withblock Grepresented as occupying a ositior slightly to the left ofthe saidswitch. Fig. 10 shows the block (l at the right hand side of the switch,and as having just engaged the point of the switch in the movement ofthe needle-operating cams from rig-ht to left. .In dotted lines thisfigure shows'theinoperative position into which 'the switch may beraised when it is desired to prevent engagement of the block and switchwith each other; Fig. 11 shows the same parts asFig: 10, but-representsthem in the position which they occupy when block G has been almostcompletely -turned by the engagement of the switch H therewith. Fig.121s a detail View showing one of the levers 71- and certain partsconnected therewith. 7

Similar letters refer to similar'; parts throughout the differentviews.

It is not considered necessary to illustrate more of the knittingmechanisrn'thanis required to show the im rovemen'ts and indicate therelations and mode of operation thereof. The knit ing mechanism in coinnection with which the invention is employed may correspond in the mainwi i that shown and described in United States Letters Patent No.616,600, granted to inc December 27, 1898.

Having reference to the drawings-at ii in Fig. 2 is represented portionof a machinefranic, it having its upper urfaces inclined at an angle ofabout'30 to each other. .The opposite needle-beds B B 'are fastened onthese inclined surfaces. To the needlebed at each side of the machineare fastened. the guide-bars B and B for the correspondingneedle-operating ca1n-slide G, and also the presser-hook supporting-bedor of such side. The bar B which isfastened to the topof the bar B?serve cam-slide G and resser-hddjk-ca n-bar' C" certain .Of the partsadjacent one endof the down in place. T10 plate B projects inmachine,comprising one of fl1i: .S\V1tCl1(S by l ward beyond the inner edgc ofthebar B to segment C 1 5 o hold the v particularly in Figs. 1 and 2. G3is form an upper guide for the block (3} to which.

reference presently will be made. The bar C 'WlllOll 1s fastenedon thesegment C at eachside of the'ma'chine serves to hold the nressenhooks Cdown in place, and serves also as a support along which one edge of'the"yarn-carrier T travels in the movements of the latter. Theneedle-projecting cam G, Fig. 2, at each side. of the machine, is fasshifted or adjusted, in a direction per enderstood; Motion is dicularto'the plane of the needle-bed, .mto and out of position for engagementwith the b1ts 'or hee s ofthe jacks D which areemployed in connectionwith the needles E. I

resently will explain the manner of effectmgthis shift. or adjustmentfor the purpose of knitting tubular goods, and the means by which thesame may be effected automatically. The needle-retractin cams G onethereof being shown. at the right hand side in Fig.2, are fastened tothe cam-slide G in any ,ap roved manner. The jack D, needle E,

an filler-piece E", Fig. 2, are combined and operate in manner which'willreadily be un- 'iven to the cam-slides G, G, by the crank X jFig'l1, through pitman connected at one end crank-pin, and at the X ,1 thelatter bein thereof to the sai other end thereof to the cross-bar Xwhich is fastened to the ends of the saidcam-slides.

- Referring first to the means of reducing the shift or adjustment ofthe need c-projecting cams at the two sides of the machine in the orderthat is required for tubular knitting; the devices'for the purpose whichI have shown herein are the same as in my ap plication for U. S. patentfor knitting machines filed June 7, 1897, Serial No. 639,677,

of which the present case is a division.

Thus-H, H, are switches which are employed.

at the opposite ends ofeachneedle-bedQas shown best in Fig. 1'. Figs. 7and 9, taken together, show the op OSIlDG' ends of one of theneedle-beds, and t e switches which are located at such ends. As shownbest by Figs. 7 to 11, Fig. 3, each switch H is pivoted at 71, upon theinner edge of one of the ars B, and has the inclined projection hadjacent its free or operating end. The free extremity at h Theswitch-arm is furnished with the upright arm or extension h, which lastis enthe movablecontrolling arm or aged by The said armor lever k 1sconever h stituted in the present instance of a strip which is attachedbyone end thereof to the upper surface of the plate B and at its otheror free end enters a horizontal notch in the arm or extension 72%, sothat when the arm or a ed the "position into the ino erative of theswitch-arm is curved upwardly, as

lever is moved vertically it communicates acorresponding movement to theswitch."

U on the plate B adjacent each switch i's inner side 0 which theproximate side ofithc curved part k of the switch takes lateral bearing,thus serving to relieve the pivot h from part of the strain which theoperation 'ard projection it, against the of. the switch tends totransmit .to said pivot;

The spring 7%, Figs. 1 and 9, operates with a tendency to hold thecontrolling arm or lever h depressed, and, Whenpermitted to do so,places and keeps the switch in the o erative. position thereof in whichit is s ownby full lines in Figs. 7, 9 and 10. The -controlling arm orlever h is engaged and actuated by means of a push-bar H Figs. 9 1

and 12, which latter at its upper end is notched to engage with the armor lever h When the said push-bar is moved upwardly, which may beeffected either by hand or by the action of suitable pattern-devices, itraises the said arm or lever h and thereby lifts the switch H out of thesaid operative osition in which it is represented llldOttGd hes in Fig.10. Each carrier-arm G has mounted thereon upon a ivot in g, Fi s. 9, 1Oand ll, an eccentric blbck The atter consists, substantially, of acylindrical part or body, which preferably is flattened slightly ondiametrically opposite portions, and is furnished with a flange that isflattened at the opposite sides thereof correspondingly with the saidcylindrical part or body, the said flange being somewhat elongated andformed with pointed ends 9, g.

stud g which connects the same pivotally with cam-bar (l iseccentrically located with relation to the cylindrical portion or bodyof the said block. By the reciprocating movements of'the cam-slide G thesaid block, thus pivoted eccentrically to the carrier-arm G which holdsthe needle (projecting cam G, see Figs. 7 to 11, is cause inner edge ofthe guide-piece B, beneath the projecting edge-portion of plate B4, andbe tween such edge-portion and a lower guide for the block. The saidlower guide may be constituted by the upper surface of the adj acentneedle-b'ed, or otherwise if preferred. Successive half-turns of theblock will alternately raise the needle-projecting cam into inoperativeposition above the bits or heels of The hole which is. formed in block Gfor the reception of the to travel along the the jacks, andlowerthesameinto operative position to on age such bits or heels and thus cause thenee les to beactuated, as the case ma be. I

eferring to Figs. 7 and 9, 1t Wlll be noticed responding needle-bed inthe direction from that in Fig. 9, the block G4 being in the positionwhich permits the needle-projectmg earn .5 posite direction.

merit being indicated in Fig. 11.-- By the new positionvthus given tothe block G the pivot y will be. caused to occupy a higher position,

and thereby: the needle-projecting cam G" be raised into inoperativeposition with 5 relation to the heels or bits of the jacks and duringthe return movement of-the knitting cams, that is to say, int-hedirection from left v to right," the needles of the said needle-bedwill-not-be, actuated by such cam. In such 4 return'movement the block Gwill pass under the-inclinedpiece h of each switch H, there- -'bylifting the respective switches out of the *way-andwill not be turned.In the succeed- 'inggmovement of the knitting-cams from right to leftthe right hand switch will act to communicate ahalf-revolution to theblock G ,,restoring"1tto1ts relative position in Fig. 9,,lower1ng {theneedle-promoting cam 111110 operative position, so that during suchmovemerit the needles of the said needle-bed will be'actuated to knit.At the conclusion of the movement. the left-handfswitch will re peat itsaction represented by Figs. 10 and 11,.raising'thereby theneedle-projecting cam 5 mm inoperative position. While this opera-L tionproceeds at one side of the machine, a 1 corresponding operation will beproceeding upon the'otherf For tubular knitting it Wlll be'understc'iodthat when the knitting-cam at v 40 .one side of the machine is depressedinto op-' erativeposition for the strokei'n one direction, theknitting-cam at the opposite side of the machine is raised intoinoperative position, and vice versa'for the stroke in the op- It willbe clear that tubular work may be'knit indefinitely without anychange'of tl ie switches if the blocks Gr atthe opposite sides ofthemachine are started prop- 'erl Changes from tubular knitting to flat5e kn1ttingpand viceversa, may be occasioned asldesiredby causing therespective switches ftoibe'moved into and out of operative posi- 'tionat the required times, either by hand or .byTpattern-connections. .56-I" he presser-hook cam-bars C C are operated-by the cross-bar X, Fig. 1,through the engagement .of the latter with lugs or bosses 0 .0 withwhich, the. said cam-bars C C are furnished. f The distance between thesaid 1ugs-o1jbosses is suflicient to 'permlt a fall backfadjustment ofthe cam-bars (J G with relation, to the needle-actuating cams at eachreturn moveinentofthe parts.

Having reference now to the actuating devices for the yarn-carrierT,-rods Y Y, Figs.

1 and 5, which are fastened by their outer extremities to the cross-barX, have connected \\ith the inner eXtremities thereof the yarn-'5carrier actuating block 1'. By means of the said block the yarn-carricrT is pushed across the needles in the movement of the cam-bars in onedirection, through the engagement of the end. of the block with anupturned lug or flange T, Fig. 5, of the yarn-carrier. As the cam-barreturns m'the opposite direction, the

dependinglip. Y of the draft-piece Y upon block Y serves by itsengagement with. said lip or lug T of the yarn-carrier to draw theyarn-carrier along. The space between the end of the push-block Y andthe depending lip Y. of the draft-piece Y is sul'licient, as in- Idicated by Figs. 1 and 5, to provide for a correct amount of lost-motionor play in the transmission oi movement from block Y to the yarn-carrierto permit the yarn-carrier T cams into proper adjustment with relationto the said cams.

The yarn-carrier T is provided with the loop 22 Figs. 1, 2 and '6,through which the body-yarn passes before reaching the usualdistributing or delivery-eye of the carrier. For use in introducing asplice-yarn, a spliceyarn lever V, Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, is pivoted upona vertical stud v with which the yarncarrier '1 is provided. To the hubof the said lever V the splice-yarn guide V is conveniently attached.See, more particularly, Figs. 1 and 6. A spring '1) which is fastened tothe lever V serves to holdthe splice-yarnguide V in contact with theupper surface of the yarn-carrier T at the transverse slot t with whichthe yarn-carrier is formed, and operates to cause the said splice-yarnguide V to follow the said surface as the lever V is swung uponits-pivot. Inasmuch as the upper surface of yarn-carrier T dips downwardfrom both sides to the delivery-eye, the guide V in following the saidsurface has a compound horizontal and vertical swinging movement.extends from the delivery-eye of the yarncarrier to one side of thelatter, as indicated in Figs. 1, 5 and 6, and serves to permit thesplice-yarn to be moved into and out of the delivery-eye, in placing thespli'ce-yarn in and out of engagement with the needles, as the case maybe. See the full and dotted lines in Fig. 6. For the purpose ofoperating the lever to swing the latter and the spliceyarn-guidc to movethe splice-yarn into and out of position in the yarn-carrier for beingengaged by theneedles and knlt, a trip-wire U is provided, it beingconnected, pivotally or otherwise, at a, Fig. 2, to the support U, whichlatter is pivoted in turn at u to the upright standard U see moreparticularly Fig.2, fastened to the'machine.

In operation, I prefer'to start the knitting at the toe, in which case,the-knitting is used only in the sole of begun in the usual manner. Thebody-yarn is threaded through the guide 42 fastened on tributingeye ofthe carrier through the slot 7 The splice yarn is threaded through theguide U2 of the splice-yarn-guide V, and then through the distribuing-eye of the yarncarrier T. Both yarns are knit until the toe iscompleted. When splice-yarn isto be the stocking, thetrip U and itssupport U are located in the position in which they are shown in Fig. 1,namely at the middle of the length of the needlebeds. done on the row ofneedles nearer the operator and from the crank end, the travel. ofthe'yarn-carrier from right to left will cause the end of thesplicelever.V to engage the trip-wire U. As a result of such engagementthe splice-lever will first move the trip-wire to the opposite side ofthe opening "a of the support U, after which the resist ance of saidtrip will be sufficient to swing the lever and with it the yarn-guide Vfrom the inoperative position shown in'Fig. 1 into the knitting positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. The trip then yields to allow thesplice-lever to pass. The. splice-yarn and body-yarn will be knitjointly to the left hand edge or turn of the fabric and will be returnedon the opposite row of needles until lever -V again comes in contact thetrip-Wire, which will now bring the parts back into the position shownin Fig. 1, moving the splice-yarn outward along the slot t of theyarn-carrier. From this point the knitting will be continued with thebodyyarn alone during the remainder of this course, and also during thereturn movement a spring 20 of the next course until the trip-wire againbrings the splice-yarn into engagement with the needles as beforedescribed.

In practice, if necessary, any suitable take-up device will be employedto take up slack in the splice-yarn.

It should be noted that. wl'ien the spliceyarn lever is operated asabove described at an intermediatepoint in the width of the tubularfabric that is being knit, the spliceyarn will be crossedfroni one sideof the tubular fabric to the other. I It will be obvious that this yarnmust be severed in order to disconnect the two sides from each otherbefore the goods can be finished. l-provide as follows for effecting theseverance upon the machine :A knife W is pivoted upon the pin w 'betweenthe rods Y Y. knife is held normally in its'raised inoperative position,shown by full lines in Fig. 5, by Fig. 1. Its cutting point w is broughtinto the dotted line position in readiness for engagement with theportion of splice-yarn which extends from the tubular fabric te-tlle-oter.

\Vhen the knitting is being pivot U, by hand or otherwise. yarn shouldbe removed in knitting these with- The said enemas tactof the projeetionmin t e 123;) the rods Y, yarn-carrier, etc, .frnr left, (in Fi 5} withthe stop at. v is fastened adjust-ably on'the the support U, the saidprojectior underneath the stop if in tau movement of the part 10..preferably caused to occur near t the knitting "stroke. ment offthe'rodsY, Y, y- I the rear extensionw of the knife, lfVi tact with the stop if,brings the kn. full-line position, Fig." 5, again, in which it is heldby spring 0 or otherwise.

. is. In the et-inn move The downwardly inclined lip or piece t,

Fig. 5', fastened to the frontend of the yarncarrier engages with theyarn in the re-' tracted position of the splice-yarn-guide, and assistsin holding the s lice-yarn out of contact with the needles w ien notbein'gknit.

, Thetoe and heel of a stocking may be knit with thesplice-yarn and bodyyarn jointly, and while this is being done, trip-wire U and knife Wshould be rendered inoperative,

which result is conveniently attained by] raisin the upper end of the,support U on its 3 parts when it is not needed, which is con venientlydone by effecting 'a change of yarn' carriers.-

' Referring to Fig. '2 it is seen that the presser-hooks C held by Thesplice-' the engagement oftheir heels by the walls of the cam-groove c wof cam-bar C come too close together to admit of a knife. passingbetween them to cut the splice yarn which is'crossed from one I rowofneedles to the other about midway of the fabric, whence recourse s hadto a change of the cam groove, as c iii'which the hooks are drawnfurther apart, seeFigs. '1 and 4.- in regular knittingf I claim as myinvention:

1. In a knitting mach'ne, in combination,

a yarn-carrier adapted to delivertwo yarns to the needles, provided'wltha distributing eye and with a transverse slot extending o'utward fromthe distributing-eye ofjthe carrier.

Cam 0 is used to control the hooks.

beyond the reach of the needles, a guide controlling one of said yarns,and means for opcrating said carrier whereby said yarn maybe moved intothe distributing-eye and knit during one. portion of the course,-andnioved along said slot and thus removed from the reach ofthe ineedles during another portion of that course.

2. In a knitting machine, ,incombination,

leading transversely front-the said; drstnbutmg-eye beyond the reach ofthe neeguide in each strokeof theyarnj the yarn-carrier having a(l1StI1bu'QlI1g16y6 and a slot tributing eye to be a trip acting to movesaid able guide controlling a secondary yarn, and means to trip saidmovable guide in each stroke of the yarn-carrier into position toconduct the secondary yarn through the disknit with the body-yarn for apredetermined portion of a course in the knitting, and again move it toshift the secondary yarn into the said slot while the remainder of thecourse is being knit of the body-yarn alone.

. 3. In combination, two rows of knitting needles, needle-actuatingcams, and means to operate said cams to effect tubular knitting, ayarn-carrier having a distributing-eye and means for supplying a bodyyarn continuously to the said distributing-eye, a movable guidecontrolling'a secondary yarn, and guide in each stroke of t eyarn-carrier to place said secondary yarn in ,the'distributingeye at apredeter:

' mmed point in the knitting in one direction to cause both yarns to belmitted-together and to again move said guide at a point in the knittingin the opposite direction to re move the secondary yarn from thedistributing-eye.

4. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, thereciprocatingcarrier provided with adistributingbye and with a slot leadingtherefrom, a splice-lever provided with a guidefor'a s )llCG-Ytllbflflda trip, as U, engaging with iihe said splice-lever in the movements ofthe yarn-carrier in both directions,

and operating the same in the movement of the yarn-carrier in onedirection tomove the splice yarn'into the saidfdistributingeye totributing-eye out of reach be knit by the needles, and acting in themovement/of the yarn-carrier in the opposite direction to -move the saidsplice-yarn through the said slot away from the disof the needles.

5. The combination of a yarn-carrier provided with a slot t, asplice-lever V providedwith a splice-yarn-guide given a movement havingboth vertical an horizontal com- Whereby the spliceponents, and a yieldtri by the needles or yarn may be engage thrown out of en agement asdescribed, subsupply a splice-yarn to the needles, controlling means tocross the splice-yarn from one series of needles, to the other at anintermediate point in the width of a tubular fabric, and a cutter tosever the portion of splice-yarn extending from one side of the tubularfabric to the other.

8. The combination with opposite series of needles and devices foractuating the same, of a carrier for a knitting-yarn, spliceyarn feedingdevices effecting a yarn from one side of a tubular fabric to the otherat an intermediate point the widthof the fabric, and a cutter travelingin unison with the carrier and operating to sever the portion ofsplice-yarn which extends from one side of said fabric to the otherthereof.

9. The combination with the yarn-carrier, of the pivotally-niountedknife moving in unison with the yarn-carrier, and the stop-by which thesaid knife is actuated.

10. The combination with the yarn-carrier, and the splice-yarn-guide, ofthe knife moving iii-unison with the the operating devices for thesplice-yarnguide and knife.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

.WILLIAM WORTH BURSON.

Witnesses Ones. F. RANDALL, EDITH J. ANDERSON.

change of spliceyarn-carrier, and

